The Conspiracy Continues?

Did Gammons influence Moore's decision not to deal Soria? According to nydailynews:

The Yankees have had no luck so far prying closer Joakim Soria from Kansas City Royals. So far it's been a very trying and empty winter for Brian Cashman and the Yankees, between the futile pursuit of Cliff Lee, the adamant unavailability of Seattle's "King Felix" Hernandez and Andy Pettitte's annual ongoing "Hamlet" act. There remain gaping holes in the Yankee pitching staff, both in the starting rotation and the set-up relief corps, where people seem to have forgotten how Kerry Wood saved their season last year.

Having struck out everywhere in his quest to land a frontline starter, Cashman has since sought to strengthen the staff from the back end, only to run into another stonewall with Kansas City Royals GM Dayton Moore's refusal to consider offers for his closer Joakim Soria. Moore's "no way" stance on Soria - who recently said he would waive his no-trade clause and approve a deal to the Yankees - is puzzling. When Moore traded Royals ace Zack Greinke to the Milwaukee Brewers last month for four prospects, none of which was considered exceptional, he said this was precisely the kind of deal he needed to be making as he continues to stock the K.C. farm system with a bumper crop of talent for delivery by 2014. Indeed, the Royals, with power hitting first baseman Eric Hosmer, third baseman Mike Moustakas and three premium lefthanded starting pitching prospects in John Lamb, Mike Montgomery and Danny Duffy, are primed to become a real force in the AL Central two years down the road with one of the top-rated farm systems in baseball. But they're not going to contend this year, nor are they likely to in 2012 either, which is why Greinke wanted out. The deal Moore made with Milwaukee for Greinke netted shortstop Alcides Escobar, who flopped with the bat and was a big disappointment with the Brewers last year; Lorenzo Cain, a corner outfielder with excellent speed and limited power who's said to still be very green; Jeremy Jeffress, a hard-throwing reliever whose progress has been marred by three positive drug tests in the minors, and righty Jake Odorizzi, the Brewers' top starting pitching prospect who is only 20 and at least two years away. It was not exactly the "blue chip" haul Moore had hoped to make when he put Greinke on the market, as none of the players he obtained figures to have any impact for this season or even 2012. Which is why Moore's disinclination to trade Soria to the Yankees for a much more substantial package seems very shortsighted.....